Machine for supporting and rotating electric signs



E. R. HARMON 2,941,322 MACHINE FOR SUPPORTING AND ROTATING ELECTRICSIGNS June 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 24, 1957- INVENTORZATTORNEYS E. R. HARMON June 21, 1960 MACHINE FOR SUPPORTING AND ROTATINGELECTRIC SIGNS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1957 N 2345 W $44.44 K Rmm HR 4 m m I 6 D Q H M a 1; 3 x k x I H H 7. w {.J. 7 G I: 5| W :1 w HII/ HW W, a a 0 4 ATTORNEYS. i

MACHINE FOR SUPPORTING AND RDTATING ELECTRIC SIGNS Edwin R. Harmon, SaltLake City, Utah, assignor to Pacific Turning Unit Corporation, Salt LakeCity, Utah, a corporation of Utah Filed June '24, 1957, Ser. No. 667,476

4 Claims. (Cl. 40-33) This invention relates to machines for rotatingelectrically lighted display signs, particularly the outdoor types ofneon signs that are widely used for advertising display purposes.

Various forms of so-called turning units have been developed heretoforeto meet demands for electric display signs that slowly and continuouslyrotate. How'- ever, these machines leave much to be desired. They areclumsy in construction and expensive to produce. Moreover, they requirefrequent repairs.

Principal objects of the present invention are to provide a machine ofthe type concerned which is relatively simple "and compact inconstruction, comparatively inexpensive to produce, requires littleattention and repair during use, is applicable to most of the usualsizes and styles of electrical display signs, effectively locks the signagainst rotation in either direction when the motor is not running, maybe provided easily and inexpensively with conveniently adjustablevariable speed mechanism, directly supports as well as motivates thedisplay sign, and provides simple and eifective electrical connectionfor the motivated sign.

In the accomplishment of these objects, an important structural featureis the provision of a power transmission gear box that surrounds thestandard or shaft upon which the sign is mounted for rotation andreplaces one of the ordinarily required bearings therefor, the standardor shaft being hollow and open-ended so that the electric wiring for thesign passes therethrough and through the gear box, establishingelectrical connection between the electrical supply lines and the usualcommutator in a most effective, compact, and economical manner.

Important also is the power transmission arrangement, which employs botha pulley drive and a double worm type of gear train for transmittingrotation of the motor to the sign mount at suitable speed reductionratio. The provision of a worm at both the power input and the poweroutput ends of the gear train provides positive locking of the mechanismagainst motion in either direction when the motor is not running,thereby insuring stability of the sign when not rotating. The provisionof a pulley drive as a component of the power transmission arrangementenables use of a conventional expansion pulley of Reeves type as aquickly and easily adjusted variable speed mechanism.

Another feature in instances where large signs are to be turned is thmanner in which a clutch is provided on the hollow standard or shaft forprotecting the mechanism against heavy wind loads exerted on the sign.For lighter signs, the pulley drive affords the use of a pulley clutchto accomplish the same thing.

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the particular preferredembodiments illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of one embodiment of the inventionadapted for use with large signs;

Fig. 7, a fragmentary vertical section taken along theline '7-7 of Fig.6; and

Fig. 8, a view corresponding to that of Fig. 1, but illus-- trating asomewhat different embodiment of the invention adapted for use withsmall signs.

Referring to the drawings:

The embodiment of Figs. 1 through 7 is adapted to support and rotaterelatively large and heavy signs which, by reason of their size, aresubject to excessive counter torque stresses developed by wind loadsexerted against the sign. As illustrated, the machine is arranged to beincorporated within the sign, although its position may be reversed soas to be surmounted by the sign.

In the form illustrated, the machine comprises a base- 10 adapted forsecurement, as 'bymeans of bolts 11, to' a fixed support, for example a'post 12.

A hollow and open-ended standard or shaft 13 has. its

lower end extending through base 10 and rigidly afiixed" thereto.

Rotatably mounted on standard 13 by means of an.

antifriction thrust and radial bearing 14 is mounting means, here havingthe form of a largely open housing 15..

Securely attached to the floor of the housing is a motor 16, preferablyan electric motor.

The standard 13 has an upward extension 17 secured thereto (by means ofset screws 27, Fig. 3), and such extension extends upwardly beyond thehousing and through a gear box 18 to a termination which projects abovethe gear box and carries thereon a series of electrical commutator rings19, there being three such rings in this instance.

The gear box 18 rests upon the top plate 15a of hous-,

ing 15, being provided with a pair of elongate and integrally for-medfeet 18a for the purpose, and is secured in place upon the housing bymeans of bolts 20, Fig. 2.

Within gear box 18 is a train of power transmitting gears adapted to bedriven by pulley drive connection with the motor 16 and to, in turn,drive the rotating components of the machine by worm and worm gear driveconnection with the standard 13 and extension thereof 17. Also carriedby gear box 18, preferably within and exteriorly thereof and formedintegrally therewith, as shown, are bearing members 18b and 180,respectively, for the sleeve 22 which is mounted on extension 17 ofstandard 13.

In the present instance, a clutch arrangement serves to interconnectworm gear 21 of the gear train in gear box 18 with the compositestandard 13, 17, thereby providing a safety factor in the event greaterthan a predetermined countertorque is effective on the drive gears byreason of excessive wind loads on the sign.

To provide the clutch interconnection, worm gear 21- lar set screws 27,and the two drum sections are normally held tightly together by means ofa clutch band 28 hearing against friction clutch facings 29" of therespective drum sections. The tightness of clutch'band 28 may beadjusted by turning screws 30, Fig. l, to establish a desired stresspoint at which torque exerted counter to the direction of rotation ofworm gear 21 will cause the clutch to slipand so relieve the'countertorque stresses on the drive gears. e

For the purpose of providing an eflicient and positive lock for the signagainst rotation in either direction when the motor 16 is idle, the geartrain within gear box 18 comprises an input or driven worm 31, Figs. 6and 7, a driven worm gear 32 in mesh therewith, and an output or driveworm 33, Figs. 3, 5, and 7, in mesh with worm; gear '21.

Input or driven worm 31 is rigidly afiixed to a shaft 34 carrying drivenpulley 35, Fig. 1, of the pulley drive connection, drive pulley 36 ofsuch pulley drive connection being rigidly affixed to the drive shaft16a of motor 16 and the two pulleys 35 and 36 being interconnected by adrive belt 37.

Output or drive worm 33 is rigidly ailixed to a shaft 38, Figs. and 7,intermediate the length thereof, such shaft carrying at one of its endsdriven worm gear 32 and at its opposite end a worm 3'9 operative in agrease or oil reservoir 40 to continually feed lubricant into the gearbox through one of the .shaft bearings 41, see Figs. 5 and 7.

It can be seen that, by the provision of a double worm gear traimnotonly is power transmitted in an appropriate and highly effective manner,but positive locking of the sign against movement in either directionwhen the motor is idle is achieved without the need for expensive andcumbersome auxiliary mechanism.

' The pulley drive connection between motor '16 and power input shaft 34of the gear box makes for compactnessof construction and is otherwisehighly advantageous in that it makes possible the use of one or bothpulleys of expansible Reeves type, so that the speed of rotation may beeasily and quickly varied for any given installation without theprovision of expensive and cumbersome variable speed mechanism.

Electrical power leads for both the motor and the sign itself, here thethree wires 42, 43, and 44, Figs. 2 and 3, are brought into the post 11at any convenient location (not shown), and are conveniently passedupwardly through the open lower end and the hollow interior of standardproper 13' and of standard extension 17 to electrical connection withthe respective commutator rings 19 at the upper end of the standardextension, the open upper end of such standard extension providingconvenient access to the electrical connections.

It will be remembered that neither the standard proper nor its extensionrotates in this arrangement of the ma chine. Since they remainstationary at all times, they provide a convenient conduit for anynumber of power leads required for the motor and the electric signproper.

The commutator brushes 45 are advantageously stacked as illustrated, seeFigs. l4, being supported by a bracket 46 secured to and extendingupwardly from housing Binding posts 47, Fig. 3 and 4, carried by a shortstandard 48, which rises from bracket 46 coextensively with the assemblyof stacked brushes 45, are electrically connected with the respectivebrushes in more or less conventional manner, as indicated, and provideconvenient electrical connections for the power supply leads going tothe motor and the sign, respectively.

. In'operation, the housing 15, gearbox 18, motor 16, and pulley-driveconnection between motor and gear box Drive worm 33 travels around wormgear 21, the latter actingas a reaction member.

- It should be noted that'the gear drive to the rotating components ofthe machine is direct, and that such drive '70 rotate with the signwithin which the'machine is encased.

furnishes, in efiect, an upper bearing for the machine, making itunnecessary to supply more than the one antifriction bearing 14.

The embodiment of Fig. 8 is even more compact in construction than thatjust described. It is designed for smaller and lighter signs, and isprovided with a one piece standard 50 of comparatively short length anduniform diameter.

Such standard extends through the gear box 51, and directly carries theworm gear (not shown) correspond ing to 21 of the first embodiment, itbeing understood that no clutch is incorporated with the standard inthis embodiment. The base 52 and antifriction bearing 53 correspond to10 and 14 of the first embodiment.

In this second embodiment, it is convenient to configurate the housing54 to accommodate the motor 55 directly above the gear box and standard.Otherwise, the power transmission mechanism is the same as in the firstembodiment, although one of the pulleys of the pulley drive connectionmay be constructedas a clutch if desired as a safety precaution.

In this second embodiment, it is convenient to mount thebrush-supporting bracket 56 directly upon the gear box, as illustrated.

As mentioned previously, the machine may be used in reverse manner tothat specifically shown and described, in which case the base 10 or 52will be uppermost and will be surmounted by the sign. The housing 15 or54 will be rigidly aflixed to the post 11 or other stationary support,and the composite standard .13, 17 or unitary standard 50 will become arotating shaft. Power supply connections will be made with the brushes,which will,

remain stationary, while motor and sign electrical connections will bemade with the commutator rings, which will rotate with the shaft, base,and sign. 18 or 51 will remain stationary along with the housing, andpower output worm 33 will therefore not revolve around worm gear 21, butwill serve to impart rotational movement thereto in conventional manner.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and de-. scribed with respectto specific embodiments thereof, it should be realized that changes maybe made within the scope of the following claims, without departing fromthe essential vcontributions to the art made by the teach-' ings hereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for supporting and rotating electric signs, whichmachine includes a hollow shaft, a housing accommodating at least partof said shaft, an electric motor within said housing, electric supplywiring extending through said shaft, commutator means carried by theshaft and interconnecting said supply win'ng with electrical leads tothe motor and the electric sign, respectively, and a thrust bearing forsaid shaft, the combination with said shaft of a speed reduction gearbox through which the shaft extends and fromopposite sides of which itprojects, the said thrust bearing being associated with the portion ofthe shaft which extends from one side of the gear box and the saidcommutator means being associated with the portion of the shaft whichextends from the opposite side of the gear box, and the gear box beingsupported by said housing; bearings for said shaft carried by the topand bottom sides, respectively, of said gear box; gearing within saidgear box for driving said shaft, said gearing including a worm wheelafiixed to said shaft, and drive gears including a worm meshing withsaid worm wheel; and drive means connecting said motor with saidgearing. p

2. The combination in claim 1, wherein the. gearing further comprises asecond worm wheel;.a shaft mounting said worm and said second worm wheelin common; a second. worm in mesh with said second worm wheel; andapower input shaft on which said second worm-is mounted, the drive meansbeing connected in drive rela tionship with said input shaft.

Gear box 3. The combination in claim 1, wherein the hollow shaftcomprises a hollow shaft member extending through the thrust bearing, ahollow shaft extension of said hollow shaft member fitted into thelatter and rigidly secured thereto, and a sleeve member rotatablymounted on said hollow shaft extension, the gearing being connected indrive relationship with said sleeve member; and wherein there isadditionally provided clutch means, comprising a clutch drum rigidlysecured to said sleeve member, a second clutch drum rigidly secured tosaid hollow shaft member, and a clutch band hugging said clutch drums.

4. The combination in claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft comprises ahollow shaft member extending through the thrust bearing, a hollow shaftextension of said hollow shaft member fitted into the latter and rigidlysecured thereto, and a sleeve member rotatably mounted on said hollowshaft extension, the worm wheel being afl'ixed to said sleeve member;and wherein there is additionally provided clutch means, comprising aclutch drum rigidly secured to said sleeve member, a second clutch drumrigidly secured to said hollow shaft member, and a clutch band huggingsaid clutch drums.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,655,524 Teague Jan. 10, 1928 2,022,105 Coons Nov. 26, 1935 2,084,915Leitch June 22, 1937 2,157,199 Doering May 9, 1939 2,555,070 Wood May29, 1951 2,556,472 Gray June 12, 1951 2,673,778 Wood Mar. 30, 19542,741,861 Roe Apr. 17, 1956

